In a victim impact statement read in court, Alfie's father Sam Phillips said: "After the trial we still feel we deserve answers. I will never know the truth about what happened to my son.

"I never got to hear him say his first proper words, I never got to have a conversation with him, I was robbed of the opportunity to see him grow up."

Footage shows the moment Hedges was arrested over the "wicked and torturous attack".

The mum can be seen clutching a bottle of Coke in the back of a police car as an officer talks her through Alfie's "unexplained" injuries.

Hedges responds: "What do you mean?"

The officer continues to list the horrific catalogue of wounds, as the killer mum says "you're joking".

She then weeps as she pleads: "I haven't done anything to him".

Footage then shows "emotional" Benham being arrested in a tatty tracksuit.

He throws Hedges under the bus, telling police: "No, you can't arrest me. What about Sian?"

During a harrowing trial, jurors were told Hedges had considered adoption when she fell pregnant in September 2018.

The mum eventually decided to keep Alfie, who was a "normal, healthy baby who grew and thrived during the early months of his life".

But his short life turned into a nightmare when Hedges embarked on a relationship with Benham.

Family members started to notice bruises on the tot, which Hedges blamed on him being "clumsy".

He was also taken to a medical centre where staff noted he had a cut under his eye in September 2019.

During this time, the evil couple shared horrific messages that hinted at the abuse Alfie was suffering.

In one, Hedges wrote: "Little s**t bit my arm this morning, f***ing hurt".

Benham responded by suggesting she should bite the tot back "but not as hard".

On November 27, 2020, Alfie was seen by members of Benham's family looking "well and without injuries".

He was taken back to the caravan and was not seen by anyone else until 11.30am the next day when Benham emerged carrying the "blue and floppy" baby who was not breathing.

Benham's mum performed CPR until paramedics arrived and took over but it was immediately apparent Alfie had been dead "for some time".

A post mortem later revealed Alfie had sustained 31 injuries to his head and neck, 11 to his arms, 17 to his legs and 11 to his torso.

He had multiple fractures to several ribs and his sternum, both arms and his left and right big toe and human bite marks.

Medics found there were potential signs of smothering to his mouth and lips and many of the injuries had been inflicted before Alfie's death.

This included a "myriad of bruises" that hadn't been on his tiny body the night before he was killed.

Benham, of Hernhill, and Hedges, of Yelverton, Devon, denied murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Kathleen Way, said: "Hedges and Benham inflicted unimaginable suffering on Alfie during a night of violence. He should have been protected and loved by his mother, but instead lost his life in appalling circumstances.

"Throughout the investigation they refused to admit what they had done and chose to put the rest of Alfie’s family, who loved him dearly, through the ordeal of a trial. As a result they had to hear the grim catalogue of injuries and abuse he had suffered.

"This was a harrowing case for all those involved including experienced officers who remained focused on the investigation and ensured evidence was recovered to ensure Alfie received some justice for the ending of his short life.